第十一章

²²所以要留意神的恩慈和嚴厲：對跌倒的人，他是嚴厲的；對你，只要你繼續在他的恩慈裡，他是恩慈的；不然的話，你也會被砍下來。²³至於他們（指以色列人），如果不是繼續不信，他們仍然會被接上去，因為神能夠把他們再接上去。²⁴你這從野生的橄欖樹上砍下來的，尚且可以不自然地接在栽種的橄欖樹（比喻神的國）上，那些本來就有的樹枝，不是更能夠接在原來的橄欖樹上嗎？ ²⁵弟兄們，我不願意你們對這奧祕一無所知，免得你們自以為聰明。這奧祕就是以色列人當中有一部分是硬心的，直到外族人的全數滿了；²⁶這樣，全以色列都要得救，如經上所記：“拯救者必從錫安出來，除掉雅各家的不敬虔的心；²⁷我除去他們罪惡的時候，就與他們立這樣的約。”

 

默想

1. 保羅警告外邦基督徒，不可以為自己比猶太人優越。外邦人得以“進入”神的恩典，完全出於神蹟，是神施行奇事，將他們“插枝”在救恩之樹上。原來的枝子（猶太人）雖被折下來，也可再被接上去（23節）。基督徒群體裡，無論是外邦人，或是猶太人，沒有類別之分；我們一樣是蒙神的大能，被接到救恩之樹上的。
2. 在我的教會或以前的經歷中，是否曾經有過基督徒之間，因自大傲慢而帶來爭鬥？我自己有沒有以這種態度來對待不認同我路線的“外人”？
3. 禱告：向神認罪，為那些受到傷害的信徒禱告。並為自己的教會求主保守，不讓這樣的優越感存在弟兄姐妹之間，而引起傷害來。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在“靈程筆記”簿上面。

 

Chapter 11

²²Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. ²³And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. ²⁴After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!

²⁵I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. ²⁶And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:
“The deliverer will come from Zion;
he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
²⁷And this is my covenant with them
when I take away their sins.”

 

Meditation

1. How has arrogance between groups of Christians hurt my church experience?  When have I shown this type of attitude to “outsiders”?
2. Pray：Confess that I have acted arrogantly to others.  Pray for those that have been hurt in the conflict.  Pray also for the church that the Lord will guard us against such arrogance and division among members of the church.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.